Operating-table.



I No. 891,679. PATENTED JUNE ZS, 1908.

J. H. DOWNEY.

OPERATING TABLE.

APPLIGATIONIILED MAR. 11, 1907.

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WITNESSES A T-TOR/VE Y5 PATENTED JUNE 23, 1908.

J. H. DOWNE'Y. OPERATING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILBD'MAR.11. 1907.

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A TTORNE VS THE Mann's PETERS cm, \smsnmnnm, D. c.

JAMES H. DOWNEY, OF GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA.

OPERATIN G-TAB LE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 23, 1908.

Application filed March 11, 1907. Serial No. 361,800.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. DOWNEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Gainesville, in the county of Hall and State of Georgia,have invented a new and useful Operating-Table, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to surgical operating tables and has for itsprincipal object to provide a table of improved construction for use inOsteopathy, the reduction of fractures, and other operations, wheretraction must be eX- irtpd on the limbs or other portions of the oc y.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for use inconnection with surgical operations generally, wherein access may be hadto any part of the body, without moving the patient, to permit the readyapplication of bandages, dressings, plaster casts, or the like.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a table in whichthe surface on which the patient rests is capable of adjustment tovarying angular positions and to different horizontal planes either inwhole or in part,

and which is made .up of a number of independently movable sections ofsuch nature as to permit the placing of the patient in the mostconvenient position and the carrying on of any operation and thesubsequent bandaging or dressing.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a table of suchconstruction as to permit the adjustment of the parts for the carryingon of osteopathic operations where downward and angular traction mustbe. eX- erted on the lower limbs, as for instance, in the Lorenzoperations.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafterappear, the invention consists in certain novel features of constructionand arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, pointed out in the appended claims, it beingunderstood that various changes in the form, proportions, size and minordetails of the structure may be made without departing from the spiritor sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a general perspective view ofan operating table constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2is a similar view showing the parts adjusted to position where downwardand particularly 1 and angular traction of one of the lower limbs isnecessary. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of a portion of thetable on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a partial cross sectionlooking from the left of the table, as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is adetail sectional view illustrating more especially the means employedfor varying the angular positions of portions of the table. Fig. 6 is adetail sectional view showing the supports for the tiltable back.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts thoughout the several figures of the drawings.

The table as a whole is formed of metal and includes two substantiallyU-shaped side bars 10, the vertical arms of which form supporting legsand are connected to the horizontal bar by diagonals 11. The lowerortions of the legs are connected by cross ars 12 which are reinforcedby braces 13.

Mounted on pivot pins 15 near the head end of the frame is a U-shapedbar 16 that extends between the side frames, and to the tops of thevertical arms of this bar is secured the main frame 13 of the tableproper, the table as a whole being tiltable on the pivots 15 to variousangles to the horizontal to facilitate gynecological and other work. Themain frame 18 is bent to form an end bar 20 and a pair of parallel sidebars 21, these being extended forward to about the middle of the lengthof the table, and thence being bent downward to form arms 22, and thenceagain forward asindicated at 23 to the foot end of the table, where theyare secured to a cross bar 24. The ends of this bar 24 are turned upforming arms 25 which are permanently secured to the side arms 23 byrivets 26 or similar fastenings, and in order to reinforce the centralportion of the table frame, a cross bar 27 is used, this bar havingupturned arms 28 which are permanently secured to the side bars of thetable frame.

The whole of the table proper may be swung with the pivot pins 15 as afulcrum,

and when adjusted to the desired angle may be locked in place byclamping screws 30 and locking strips 31. These locking strips which arepivoted to the opposite sides of the table frame are U-shaped at theirupper ends and are provided with vertically elongated slots 32 for thepassage of the screws 30, the latter assing through enlarged openings inthe'side Ears 10 of the supporting frame, and on the screws are wingnuts 33 to permit clamping of the parts in place.

Rising from the central portion of the cross bar 27 is a post 34carrying a clamping arm 35 which may be properly adjusted for thepurpose of holding the pelvis in place, this clamp being locked by ahandled set screw 36. The post 34 also carries a small seat 37 which isgenerally of elliptical or ovate form and forms a pelvis support.

The supports for the lower limbs are two in number and these areindependently adjust able, and each is formed of two independentlyadjustable sections 40 and 41, the section 40 being arranged for thereception of that portion of the limb below the knee, and the section 41serving to support that portion of the limb above the knee. These twosections are connected by hinges 42 in order that the sections may beadjustable to varying angular positions, one of such adjustments beingillustrated, for instance, by dotted lines in Fig. 2, where the section40 is adj usted approximately to an angle of forty degrees in order toform a foot rest, while the leg is flexed. This outer section 40 isprovided with openings 43 for the passage of straps which may passaround the ankle or foot of the patient.

The inner or tip ends of the sections 41 are curved at the inner cornersto correspond to the curvature of the seat 37, and are mounted onsupports carried by the post 34, and from which they may be readilydetached by sliding footwise. The corners at the outer edge of the tableare supported by suitable pins 45 that project inward from the side bars21, the connection being sufficiently strong to support the patient,while at the same time permitting ready detachment.

The supports for the outer or foot ends of the sections 41 are in theform of small posts 47, which are pivoted on pins 48, the pivoted endsof such posts having square shoulders 49 that bear against the cross bar24 for the purpose of preventing pivotal movement in one direction,while movement in the opposite direction may be readily accomplishedwhen it is desired to fold the posts down into position parallel withthe arms 23 of the table frame. These posts 47 carry small hooks 49which are arranged to enter notches 50 formed in the side arms of theleg sections 41.

The inner corners of the outer ends of the sections 41 are supported bylugs 51 prothe pelvis seat.

The lower limb sections 40 are adjustable to varying angular positionswith respect to the sections 41, and beneath each section is a pair ofbars 50, to the foot ends of which are pivoted yokes' 51. From each yokeprojects a collar 52 having an opening for the passage of a rod 53 thatis pivoted to the lower leg section, and when the rod has been moved tothe desired position, and the section properly adjusted, the parts maybe rigidly locked and clamped by a set screw 54.

Each of the leg sections may be moved from the horizontal plane of theupper bar 21 to the horizontal plane of the lower arm 23 of the frame,merely by detaching the section 41 from its upper supports and looseningthe connections which sustain the section 40. The leg section as a wholemay then be dropped, as shown, for instance, in Fig. 2, but it will beobserved that in this position there is no portion of the main frame 10above the surface of the table, and this, as will hereinafter appear, isespecially advantageous in the application of bandages, casts, or thelike, to the lower limbs and pelvic reion.

A further and very important advantage obtained from the lowering of oneor both of the leg supporting sections is that by resting the'pelvis onthe seat 37, downward and outward stress may be exerted on either of thelimbs, this being of especial value in various osteopathic operations,such, for instance, as dislocation of the hip, or where it is desired toexert traction in the direction of the length of one of the lower .limbsat a slight, or any angle to the longitudinal axis of the table, andslightly downward from the horizontal plane of the table.

The support for the upper part of the body includes a head rest 57 whichmay be of any desired construction and a back rest 58. The back rest issupported by a'pair of bars 59 that are pivoted on studs 60 projectinginward from the side bars 21 of the frame, and this back supportingsection may be adjusted by swinging it up and down on the pivot 60 andholding the same in any manner in order that the back of the patient maybe supported at any desired angle. Aside from this, the back section 58may be slid in the direction of the length of the table, that is to say,toward and from the seat 37, so that it may be adjusted to the positionshown in Fig. 1, or to the position shown in Fig. 2, this latterposition being of the utmost advantage where access is to be had to thelumbar region, and where bandages or casts must be applied, it beingpossible to apply a dressing or cast aroundthe entire lower portion ofthe trunk without lifting or moving the patient in any manner.

At the opposite ends of the main frame are arranged socket members 62,the sockets being in the form of vertical openings which may receive thetraction apparatus, or, when necessary, gynecological stirrups or thelike may be placed in position. These socket members in osteopathic andfracture reduc ing operations receive pins 63 which are clamped in placeby cam levers 64. To the upper ends of the pins are pivoted rods 64,

65, both of which are rebent into approximately sigmoidal form asindicated in Figs. 1 and 2, in order that they may swing freely in aplane below the horizontal plane of the table proper. The main rod 64may be solid, or in the form of a single tube, while the rod 65comprises two telescopic members, one of such members, 67, carrying aclamping screw 68 by which the other member may be locked, theconstruction permitting elongation of the rod in order to vary the angleof the rod 64 with respect to the table. At the upper or outer end ofthe tube 67 is pivoted a collar 70 that slides upon the rod 64, andwhich may be locked in place by a screw 71. This collar may be slid inthe direction of the length of the rod 64 and either member may beturned independently of the other.

The rod 64 carries a traction apparatus including a block 73 that islongitudinally and circumferentially adjustable on the rod, and whichmay, also, be locked in place by a set screw 74. To this block ispivoted an arm 75 carrying a shaft 76 on which is mounted a suitableratchet wheel 77 and a winding drum, the latter receiving a flexibletraction member 78 which may be wound up on the drum as the ratchetwheel is turned. Pivoted on the shaft 76 is an operating lever 80carrying a pawl 81, which, by engagement with the teeth of the ratchetwheel, permits a step by step rotative movement of the latter. Theratchet wheel is held from return movement by a locking pawl 82.

The rods 64' and 65 may be adjusted to any angular position with respectto each other and with respect to the table, it being possible to placethem almost in horizontal position, and at any angle between thehorizontal and the vertical with respect to both the longitudinal andtransverse axes of the table, and this for the reason that there arefour sockets 62 to receive the pivot pins 63 of said rods.

In order to brace and support the traction frame, a telescopic rod 84 isemployed, this rod being formed of two members telescopically connected,one of the members carrying a clamping screw 85. At one end of thebracing rod is pivoted a collar 86 carrying a clamping screw 87, thiscollar embracing the rod 641, and being adjustable both longitudinallyand circumferentially thereof. The lower end of the telescopic bracingrod is pivoted to a pin 89 that is swiveled, in a block 90 which may beadjusted'to position on any one of the members of the table proper, andlocked in place by a clamping screw 91.

Where the device is employed for reducing a fracture of the tibia orfibula, the lower limb may be supported on one of the sections 41 untilthe traction apparatus has been adjusted and operated for the purpose ofplacing the bones in apposition. The section 41 may then be dropped freefrom contact with the limb and access may be had to all parts thereof topermit the free winding of a bandage, or the application of a plastercast.

For fracture of the femur, the lower section 40 may beadjusted to anangular position to form a foot rest and after strapping the foot inplace and adjusting the pelvis clamp, traction may be exerted in thedirec tion of the length of the femur, and, if necessary, the section 41of the table may be dropped to permit free access to all parts of thelimb. In similar manner the back rest 58 may be moved away from the seat37, leaving the lower portion of the body free, so that dressings may beapplied without lifting or moving the patient, and in all of these casesthere is nothing to interfere with the work of the surgeon, the mainpart of the table being always in a plane below the operating surface.

The facility with which the traction apparatus may be adjusted andremoved, and gynecological stirrups or the like applied, permits the useof the table for osteopathic and surgical operations of any description.

1. A surgical table including a main frame, a sectional table topincluding separate leg pallets, each pallet being formed of lower legand thigh sections, and means for supporting each allet as an entiretyin a position parallel with and below the main portion of the table top.

2. In a surgical table, a main frame, a pelvis seat, a table topincluding a back rest arranged in the plane of the pelvis seat, separateleg pallets each including lower leg and thigh sections, said palletsbeing adjustable as an entirety to the plane of the elvis seat or to aposition below and paralle with said pelvis seat.

3. The combination in a surgical table, of a main frame, a topframepivoted thereto and including a pair of side bars, the forward endsof which are in a horizontal plane below the horizontal plane of therear ends of said bars, a back section sup orted by the rear ends of thebars, remova le leg pallets adjustable into alinement with either theforward or the rear ends of the bars, and means for supporting saidpallet sections.

4. The combination in a surgical table, of a main supporting frame, atop frame pivotally connected thereto and including a pair of side bars,the rear ends of which are in a horizontal plane above the horizontalplane of the forward ends of the bars, a back rest supported by the rearends of the bars, adjustable leg pallets, cross bars connecting theforward ends of the side bars and serving as a support for the legpallets when the latter are in the plane of the forward ends of saidbars, and auxiliary supports for maintaining said leg pallets in thehorizontal plane of the rear ends of the side bars.

5. A surgical table including a mainframe, a top frame mounted thereonand including two portions arranged in different horizontal planes, andleg sections adjustable into alinement with either portion of the topframe.

6. A surgical table including a top frame having portions arranged intwo horizontal planes, leg sup orting sections and supports carried bysaic top frame for holding the leg supporting sections in alinement witheither the upper or the lower portion of said top frame.

7. In a table of the class described, a 15 frame, sectional leg palletsindependently adjustable into varying angular positions, and means onthe frame for supporting said pallets in different horizontal planeswith respect to the horizontal plane of the table 20 proper.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES H. DOWNEY. l/Vitnesses:

B. M. STALLWORTH, W. B. LAWSON.

